58052 Getting Down to Earth VOL 8 I NO 3 MARCH 1989 by Thierry Sagnier In this issue: Articles 2 Getting Down to Earth. A review of the environmental agenda. 5 Travel's Travails. Imagine spending 179,077 nights in a hotel ... 7 The Dominican Republic Takes the Lead. The farmers rescued their waterways. 9 Life After the Bank. Three former staff have new careers. 14 AFashionable Event. An auction and a show benefit United Way. 16 Case Study Approach Hailed a Success. Borrowing from the Harvard Business School. 17 Emmanuel Asibey: AVoice Crying for the Wilderness. Africa Region's new senior ecologist speaks out. Departments 12 On the Record. MIGA's Yoshio Terasawa on breaking down the barriers. 19 Staff Association. Priorities. 20 Letters to the Editor 20 Around the Bank 22 Staff Changes Reservoir near Jammu in Kashmir, drying up because of high run-off rates due to man's 23 The Observer on support in the failure to protect the upper watershed. Photos by Glenn Morgan heartland. 24 AnswerLine Cover: Mini Nair models atwo-piece u rt not the earth, neither the sea waters, about all the ills that beset poorer cotton print outfit for resort wear. Photo by Jill Roessner H nor the trees. Revelation 7:3. and poorest countries? The answer might be, "A lot, and more so in the future." Readers of Time magazine were jolted In May 1987, speaking before the on January 2 when the weekJy's cover World Resources Institute in Wash­ announced that the Earth had received ington, Barber Conable announced wide­ Time's "Planet of the Year" award (in ranging institutional reforms that would lieu of the usual Man or Woman of the greatly strengthen the Bank's environ­ Year). The unlikely selection was based mental agenda. on an extraordinary meeting in the sum­ The speech surprised both friends and mer of 1988 during which 33 leading foes by its candor, for Mr. Conable recog­ environmental experts- including the nized that, indeed, errors had been com­ Bank's Kenneth Piddington, Director of mitted. Citing the Polonoroeste project in The Bank's World, Vol. 8. NO. 3. Published the Environment Department- were Brazil as "a sobering example of an envi­ monthly in Washington, D.C.• by the Media and asked to answer a simple question: ronmentally sound effort which went Communications Division of the World Bank fo r all employees and retirees of the World Ban kl "What on Earth are we doing?" wrong, " he went on to describe initia­ International Finance Corporation, 181 8 H St. , A good question, one that is increas­ tives that would ensure that "if the Bank N.W. , Room E-8045, Washington, D.C. 20433. Th ierry Sagnier, Editor ingly often lofted at the Bank, particu­ has been a problem in the past, it can and Jill Roessner, Associate Editor larly when it comes to the institution's will be a strong force in finding solutions Morallina Fanwar-George, Editorial Assistant involvement in environmental issues. for the future." Bill Fraser, Designer What are we doing about deforestation, Criticisms of the Bank's environmen­ air pollution , over-population, poisoned tal posture, of course, did not cease with Mr. Conable's speech, but even the Region, said in a recent interview, "Envi­ afford. Not so today. The powerful inter­ staunchest faultfinders would have to ronmental issues are integral to our poli­ action among poverty, environment and recognize that, in the months since May cy dialogue with countries. Let me put it development is all too apparent, especial­ 1987, the institution has lived up to its this way: the environment is the patri­ ly in Asia. Governments and a growing President's promises. Almost every envi­ mony of Africa. The basic capital of Afri­ number of private environmental organi­ ronmental front has seen action. ca is its land and its natural resources, zations realize that at current rates, the "Since arriving in Washington last and if they are consumed carelessly, then mining of environmental resources is un­ April, I've been greatly encouraged by it's like consuming capital in terms of sustainable. " the reaction of Bank colleagues to what financial resources. In the end, you're Sustainability is the key word, and it's we are promoting," says Mr. Piddington. out of business. " interesting to note that, in some cases, "I think the environment is now seen as Efforts are in no way 1imited to Africa. it's what the Bank doesn't do that merits a professional challenge in project design To improve soil and moisture conserva­ attention. For example, several proposed and implementation, rather than some tion, the New Delhi office has reintro­ projects deemed capable of contributing form of window-dressing. But now we duced vetiver grass to India (See Bank '5 to environmental damage were shelved, come to the hard part, because there is World, June 1988). According to an En­ including a hotel development in Turkey no time to lose and 1989 has to be a year vironment Department report, "all field that would have disturbed one of the in which we demonstrate that Bank staff trials to date suggest that its environmen­ major breeding beaches of the caretta are equipped to deliver on the President's tal impact is completely positive and that turtle; a gold mining project that would commitment. " it could bring about a technical revolu­ adversely affect a 7-kilometer stretch of tion." coral reef in Papua New Guinea; and a Protecting the soil In China, according to the same re­ food irradiation plant in Thailand. Efforts have been multi-pronged. port, a $127 million loan for the pharma­ In Ethiopia, a family health project ceutical sector" funds a plant designed to Environmental problems aims at increased use of family planning meet environmental standards, including In Brazil, a plan to place 15,000 fami­ services, while in Togo a cotton sector complete sensor and alarm systems for lies in new settlements was sharply cur­ project supports continued research on all hazardous materials, a system for tailed to 5,000 when analyses showed rotating cotton and food crops to in­ monitoring waste water and sludge for that the larger number would certainly crease yields while protecting the soil. nickel and other heavy metals, and com­ create environmental problems. In Burundi, an IDA credit will work to plete capability to monitor and analyze "This was part of a broader strategy to improve living conditions, benefit overall air and water pollution control. " adjust the course of the Polonoroeste 800,000 children with nutrition services Though progress has certainly been project," says Maritta Koch-Weser of and assist in family planning. A separate achieved, concerns over Asia's environ­ LAC's Country Department I. "In 1985, credit will support the Muyinga Agricul­ mental situation still must be voiced. In a the Bank decided that no further infra­ tural Development Project, which will, in February speech at Harvard University, structure investments should be made part, develop agroforestry to help control Asia Region Vice President Attila Karaos­ unless environmental management and erosion. This in tum will reduce defores­ manoglu warned that" 15 years ago de­ protection were firmly established. Sev­ tation by providing an alternative source veloping countries could be heard to de­ eralloans, which are now under prepara­ of fuelwood. clare that environmental protection was tion in Brazil, would support environ­ As Kim Jaycox, Vice President, Africa a luxury that only rich countries could mental protection and management," she adds. "They would finance agro­ Severely degraded fannland with topsoil washed away. ecological zoning, the strengthening of environmental and forestry agencies, the protection of conservation areas and threatened eco-systems, and environ­ mental training and research." If Bank-sponsored projects are often high visibility endeavors, low profile ef­ forts may well claim a share of the Bank's successful environmental agen­ da. In FY88, various Bank groups and departments held more than 80 work­ shops, seminars and meetings ranging in subject from "Traditional Elephant Man­ agement in Sri Lanka" to "Forest Policies and Resource Conservation in Africa." Just recently, the Environment Depart- THE BANK'S WORLD / MARCH 1989 3 ment published its pilot issue of the Envi­ Forty percent faU into Category A- these ronment Bulletin, a bimonthly newslet­ projects have no environmental impact, ter reporting on Bank activities in this or real or potentiaUy favorable impact; 36 area. The Bulletin, according to its percent are in Category B-their environ­ editor, Arlette Snyder, had an initial mental impact may be significantly ad­ 4,SOO-copy press run aimed mostly at verse but readily available measures can interested staff, international agencies, be taken to blunt them; and 15 percent and non-governmental organizations. are in Category C-severe and complex Additionally, Resident Missions have impacts requiring detailed environmental been asked to distribute the newsletter to assessments. interested parties in their respective Over the past year, two environmental countries. crises of global consequence have be­ come front-page news: the greenhouse Recent publications effect, and the dumping of toxic wastes. Other recent publications include The greenhouse effect implies a grad­ "Wildlands: Their Protection and Man­ ual warming of the earth's atmosphere agement in Economic Development," by due to leakages in the planet's ozone George Ledec and Robert Goodland. Mr. layer. Ledec, a consultant with the Bank's Of­ (SeeAnswerline, page 24.) fice of Environmental Affairs, and Mr. Goodland, Chief of LAC's Environmental In the EMENA Region, staff three Toxic wastes Division, contend that wise use and man­ years ago began to work on a special The covert dumping of industrialized agement of wildlands promote soil pro­ Bank initiative for the Mediterranean nations' toxic wastes in Third World tection, provide habitats for flora and area, which suffers from land- and ship­ countries has earned the outrage of Part fauna, help control siltation and erosion, based pollution, soil erosion, destruction II leaders and prompted the United Na­ recycle wastes, and fulfill a number of of wildlife habitat and deterioration of tions Environment Program and the in­ other environmental needs. archeological and historic sites. Ten years ternational community to begin a desper­ "Government Policies and Deforesta­ earlier, countries in the Mediterranean ate search for solutions to toxic waste tion in Brazil's Amazon Region" is au­ region had banded together and adopted trade. President Conable, who has been thored by Dennis Mahar, an adviser on a Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) . giving interviews and talks to stress the the Bank's Economic Advisory Staff. The Today, working with the United Na­ Bank's new policies, outlined his views report, published in January, was pre­ tions Environment Program and the Eu­ on toxic waste in a speech in mid-Febru­ pared in cooperation with the World ropean Investment Bank, the EMENA ary in Manila, during which he said: Wildlife Fund and The Conservation Environment Division is promoting the "The problem of regulating and control­ Foundation, two non-governmental orga­ Environmental Program for the Mediter­ ling toxic wastes arising from industrial nizations that, ,even a few months ago, ranean, a three-phase effort to assess the output and other sources ... should be of would have been unlikely to lend their problems and identify high priority proj­ concern for all of us ... It is ... a rising names and assistance to Bank endeavors. ects and policy/ institutional reforms. threat the Bank seeks to contain by help­ One initiative mentioned by Mr. Con­ ing governments pursue a goal of 'zero able in his World Resources Institute Cleaning up the cities net pollution' in projects that the Bank speech was that the Bank would carry Meanwhile, the Asia Region's Environ­ finances. Our objective is to make sure out environmental assessments of the 30 ment Division (ASTEN), recognizing that that the developing countries we assist most vulnerable developing nations. by the turn of the century developing can take charge of adequately treating Shortly thereafter, Madagascar was se­ countries will have 20 cities each having and disposing of any toxic emissions they lected as one of the target countries. The more than 10 million inhabitants, has produce ... If there is an extra cost, we Madagascar Environmental Action Plan launched the" Capital Cities Clean-up will seek ways to have it met. " (EAP) has identified five primary themes Program." Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, More than a half a century ago, John to forestall the ongoing ecological degra­ Beijing, Shanghai and Bombay are possi­ Haynes Holmes, a United States clergy­ dation from which the island nation is ble sites that could benefit from this ini­ man, wrote, "The life of humanity upon suffering. Soon, the Action Plan will tiative, which aims at cleaning up both this planet may yet come to an end, and move into the project preparation stage. the cities and their waterways. a very terrible end. But I would have you Lesotho's EAP has been completed as LATEN, in the interim, has ranked notice that this end is threatened in our well as that of Mauritania. Other Action new projects in Latin America according time not by anything that the universe Plans are being prepared for Rwanda, to their potential impacts on human pop­ may do to us, but only by what man may Burkina Faso, Ghana, Tanzania and ulations and the environment. To date, do to himself. " Guinea. some 200 projects have been studied. Words to be heeded. 4 THE BANK'S WORLD / MARCH 1989 Travel's Travails j. ~ by Peter Williams ""J hen describing ajourney he made is a heavy requirement for processing My job entails a great deal of travel W II in 19th century Europe, Robert visas, national passports and United Na­ throughout Africa," says Barbara Es­ Louis Stevenson wrote in "Travels with a tions Laissez-Passers, with 75,226 trans­ chenbach, Field Operations Coordinator Donkey" that "it is better to travel than actions handled in FY88. in the Africa Department, "and my itin­ to arrive." A more modem expression From these statistics a picture emerges eraries can at times be incredibly compli­ has it that getting there is half the fun!" II of a travel program of daunting dimen­ cated. I have consistently found, howev­ It is doubtful, however, if either of these sions. To keep the program in the air, so er, that the three Amexco counselors opinions would be shared by traveling to speak, the Bank has a contract with who handle my travel come up with Bank staff. For them, the journey has American Express which the Bank's imaginative routings which would never become a necessary evil to be suffered in Travel Office in the Travel and Shipping occur to me." the pursuit and accomplishment of the Division administers. American Express The need to plan a trip always seems mission at hand. maintains offices in the Main Complex, to come at an inconvenient time, and in Compared to most other organizations on the second floor of the A and B build­ complimenting his travel counselor, Adil around the world, the Bank's operational ings, and on the first floor of the I build· Kanaan, a Senior Country Officer in travel requirements are extraordinary­ ing, with a staff of 103 travel counselors, EMENA, remarks, "He makes the nor­ our staff travel frequently, for long pe­ rate, hotel reservation, and documenta­ mally irritating process of working out a riods of time, to distant destinations, and tion specialists and so on, making it one complicated itinerary both pleasant and follow complex itineraries. Such a profile of the largest corporate "in-plant" travel smooth." translates into a statistical giant in the agency operations to be found anywhere. All corporate travel programs seek to corporate travel world-over $53 million Getting to some of the Bank's more achieve the greatest degree of efficiency was spent in FY88 on airline tickets from remote work sites, on time, often re­ without jeopardizing service levels. The Headquarters, and staff of the Bank and quires the kind of in-depth trip planning unusual complexity of the Bank's pro­ IFC made 13,751 operational trips, 8,917 for which American Express travel coun­ gram makes achievement of this goal benefit trips and spent 179,077 nights in selors have been specially trained. Each more difficult and increases the pressure hotels. In addition, with the many na­ travel counselor's knowledge of the intri­ on the Travel Office and American Ex­ tionalities represented at the Bank, there cate technicalities of ticketing, routing press to live up to traveler expectations. and fare construction is essential in mak­ It is important to ensure that the Bank's Editor's note: Peter Williams is a Travel ing sure that itineraries are crafted to dollars are properly and effectively spent Officer in the Travel and Shipping Divi­ meet mission requirements in the most and that American Express delivers the sion. efficient manner. highest possible level of service. Conse- THE BANK'S WORLD / MARCH 1989 5 quently, built into the contract between External events which are not directly the Bank and the travel agency are ser­ related to the Bank's travel program will vice standards covering ticket delivery, also place additional pressure on the op­ flight confirmation, hotel reservations The peak periods eration. A case in point concerns the Visa and fare calculations. The Travel Office Office, which handled approximately monitors American Express perfor­ for operational 23,000 transactions each year in FY84 mance against these standards through travel are March and FY85, but, as a result of changes in monthly statistical reports, and by solicit­ visa requirements of many countries ing-through a travel questionnaire­ through June and since then, processed over 75,000 appli­ opinions from operational and benefit cations in FY88. Visa Office staff were travelers who have recently returned to September through able to handle the original volume quite Washington. Every two months, 90 staff November; Benefit comfortably but the unexpected, dramat­ members who have just completed mis­ ic upsurge in volume overloaded their sions and 10 who have returned from Travel Office is capacity. benefit travel are asked to complete this The Travel Office's monitoring systems questionnaire, which asks about the per­ busiest from May identified the Visa Office as a problem formance of the individual travel coun­ until August and in area, which led to discussions with Amer­ selor as well as the American Express ican Express management. The company unit. The Travel Office consolidates the December. is now investing over $400,000 in the responses in a report. design, development and installation of a The statistical reports reveal that unique computerized system, known as American Express maintains a consist­ VULCAN, which will store profiles of all ently high level of service, meeting the ter for the travel program; it draws atten­ traveling staff and their visa require­ standards 90 percent to 100 percent of tion to problem areas and gives us the ments vis-a-vis all countries. The system the time. Data from the questionnaires opportunity to tackle them before they will automatically transfer a traveler's show staff satisfaction with both the indi­ become serious." itinerary to the Visa Office as soon as vidual performances of the travel coun­ As you might expect, the Bank's travel airline reservations are made, which will selors and with the overall performance business is not distributed evenly allow the maximum possible time for of American Express as a company. throughout the year. The peak periods necessary visa processing. VULCAN is Based on a scale ranging from a high for operational travel have traditionally due to be in full operation by the end of score of 6 to a low score of 1, the coun­ been March through June and Septem­ 1989. selors received a "5" rating and the com­ ber through November, while the Benefit panya "4.8" in the most recent survey. Travel Office is at its busiest from May Measured in weeks and months With the service standards reports on the until August and in December. The over­ Robert Louis Stevenson was writing one hand and the travel questionnaire lap in May and June of the two types of about travel in the more leisurely world report on the other, the Travel Office can travel can place a strain on the American of the 19th century, when journeys were monitor the travel agent's recent perfor­ Express operation. During peak periods measured in weeks and months rather mance from two complementary per­ such as these, the impact of late bookings than in hours-certainly he could not spectives and gain a truer picture than or changes in itineraries is acutely felt, have envisaged the dramatic changes that generated by either statistics or com­ and lapses in service occur. In fact, 17 that would take place in travel during the ments alone. percent of all operational itineraries in next hundred years. The rapid technolog­ FY88 were subject to eleventh-hour activ­ ical advances in transportation methods Feedback is invaluable ity. in the first half of the 20th century have The information gleaned from both been followed by the revolutionary im­ sources is put to good use by the Travel Juggling pact of computerization on the travel Office in its evaluation of American Ex­ Accommodating staff who need to industry during the second half. Systems press. Between 85 percent and 90 per­ make changes takes some juggling in the have been developed by the airlines to cent of staff complete and return the counselors' appointment schedules and handle reservations and ticketing and, for questionnaire. "We appreciate very sometimes leads to inconvenience for fel­ its part, the Travel and Shipping Division much the time and effort spent by staff in low staff members just starting to make is in the process of developing its own this exercise," comments Koos van den travel plans. The Travel Office and Amer­ totally integrated travel management in­ Berg, Chief of the Travel and Shipping ican Express recognize that this is a re­ formation system which will ensure that Division. "This kind of feedback is invalu­ curring, frequently unavoidable problem the Bank will have the necessary tools to able to us. I encourage all staff to use the and are looking into procedures and run its travel program with the highest questionnaire to convey their thoughts to work flow changes that will help alleviate degree of efficiency as we move toward us. Such information serves as a barome- the situation. the 21st century. BID 6 THE BANK'S WORLD / MARCH 1989 Small Farmers Organize to Manage Water The Dominican Republic Takes the Lead by Herve Plusquellec The Dominican Republic, which shares gated areas. Canals were poorly main­ the Hispanolia Island with Haiti, is tained. Water distlibution was anarchic largely still unknown to the irrigation and erratic for the tail-enders. Needless community, although with one-quarter to say, few farmers paid their water of a million hectares it has the second charges and morale was low. The only largest irrigated area among Caribbean positive point was the quality of construc­ and Central American countries after tion of the canals. To attempt to solve the Cuba. Development of irrigation in that situation, a team of 11 experts from Utah country dates back only to the 1930s. University was called in to work on a 250­ Dominican authorities are now starting hectare pilot area. to turn the management of large-scale New proposal systems over to small farmer associa­ tions to free farmers from depending on November 1988. I felt a breath of hope weak public institutions. upon my arrival in Santo Domingo. Au­ gustin Merea, a Peruvian consultant and arch 1986. Jose Luis, a Dominican a member of the team in charge of prep­ M farmer in the Azua project in the arid zone of the country, was yelling at a aration of a Bank project for the agricul­ tural development of 28,000 irrigated Before: a poorly maintained canal in the Dominican Republic is almost entirely overgrown. Photos by Herve Plusquellec Bank sector review mission about the hectares, briefed me on the new propos­ damned irrigation project. A few years al. "The responsibility for management ago, he was able to get a good crop of of this state-owned system will be turned tomatoes of export quality on his 2.5­ over to the 'Junta de Regentes' (Board of hectare farm. His land is now totally bare Regen ts), " he said. "The members of the and, in some places, salt is shining. Luis Junta will be elected through a four-level now makes his living from the small shop process starting at the nucleo, a group or he bought during the good years. 10 to 15 farmers served by a common The situation in the Azua project is outlet. " Given that the areas are farmed typical of many irrigation projects in arid by small farmers-2 hectares on aver­ zones. Inadequate drainage, combined age-many bought under an agrarian re­ with over-watering of the project area in form, I had some doubts on the chance the highlands, resulted progressively in of success of the proposed innovation. salinization, decrease of productivity and But Mr. Merea informed me of the prog­ ultimately abandonment of the lowlands. ress achieved so far. "The Juntas de Re­ INDHRI, the Dominican authority in gentes are already established in the Azua charge of irrigation projects and domi­ and Yaque del Norte projects," he said, nated by civil engineers, was criticized by "and are progressively taking over re­ international and bilateral institutions for sponsibility for management." taking more interest in constructing new I was told later that Mr. Merea was the large works rather than developing irli­ expert who had drafted the new legisla­ tion on water charges and water users' Editor's note: Herve Plusquellec, Irriga­ associations in a number of Latin Ameri­ tion Engineer Adviser, visited the Dom­ can countries. He was also associated inican Republic in early 1986 and in with the creation of the user association After: cleared up, the canal delivers water November 1988. in Colombia, which has managed the to Junta members. THE BANK'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 7 "We hope to establish the Junta for the entire area by the end of 1989," said Mr. The Mexican Yaqui Project Zapata. "Water distribution has been im­ The irrigation system of the Mexi­ by Utah University to the Dominican proved and has now reached the tail end can Yaqui project, which serves Republic and the drainage and level­ part of the project." The Utah team has large private and collective farms, is ing works financed by USAID have been reduced to three experts and re­ managed by 97 associations. There, contributed to the rapid takeoff of deployed over the Azua and Yaque del the farmer's education levels are rel­ the Junta de Regentes. Another key Norte. atively high. On the other hand, the factor was the good condition of the The Dominican experience confirms small farms in the Dominican Re­ infrastructure. Weeding and some that /, developing an irrigation system public are more typical of the type desilting were the only works re­ means not only creating a network of found in developing countries, and quired before the transfer of irriga­ canals but also a working network of the education level is lower. tion facilities to the Junta, a condi­ social and institutional relationships be­ The technical assistance provided tion rarely found in most countries. 11 tween the water users of the system, who can jointly operate and manage it at les­ ser costs and more effectively, " accord­ ing to Michael Cernea, the Bank's Sociol­ ogy Adviser. 30,000-hectare Coello project remark­ 58 pesos per hectare at the time of the It may be too early to predict whether ably well since 1976. However, farm size creation of the Junta in 1987," said Junta the experience of the Dominican Repub­ in Coello is on average fivefold the size of President Romula Cruz. "We have col­ lic will be sustainable when present exter­ a holding in the Dominican Republic. lected 183,000 pesos compared to 30,000 nal aid dries up, but the chances of suc­ Next day I started the field visits. pesos a year ago; those of us who aban­ cess seem good. It is an experience worth doned our lands because of poor drain­ 'No paga, no agua' monitoring and supporting since it may age are now back in the project. " be a model for countries with weak pub­ "Half of the farmers have paid their "We have no problem in operating the lic institutions, but it requires consider­ water charges, and we hope to reach 100 irrigation system," said Andres Fer­ able effort from the institutions to orga­ percent in 1989," said Leonidas Beltre, nandez, the Junta Manager. "We have nize and support these associations at the President of the Azua Junta. The rule 300 automatic water level control gates their early stages. A prerequisite condi­ is " No paga, no agua." No pay, no water. in the system, which ensure a constant tion is the good condition of physical The Junta has recruited 13 employees so flow at the farm outlets." facilities. Farmers will not take over a far and is progressively taking over the "We received the water in bulk," said failed system, poorly built and designed, responsibility ofINDHRI. A. Reyes, an one of the representatives of a nucleo, inoperable and financially not viable. tlI ex-INDHRI employee and now Project "and we distribute it among ourselves, Manager, explained that videos, radio an­ based on the priority requirements of the nouncements and meetings had told the crops." farmers of their rights and responsibili­ Yaque del Norte ties and motivated them to pay water Situation is more complex A further point of interest is the low charges. In the third area of the future Bank intensity management of the Yaque The results were apparent during the project, Nizao, only an hour from Santo del Norte. The designer took advan­ field visit. Canals are clean and all gates Domingo, the situation is more complex. tage of the relatively steep slope of are in operable condition. Water losses Twice in 1982 and 1986, INDHRI at­ lateral canals to install simple auto­ have been substantially reduced and a tempted to create water users' associa­ matic gates, which considerably drainage system is under construction in tions. The project facilities were in poor ease operations. Technical and man­ the lowlands. We met a farmer who was condition and incomplete. The associa­ agerial innovations are the key to the exultant at being able to cultivate his tion was given only a consultative role success of this project. The special lands for the first time since 1984. Mr. without active participation. The water design ofYaque del Norte has not Beltre, a 2-hectare agrarian reform farm­ charges were still paid to INDHRI. Eus­ been replicated in other projects er in the Utah pilot area, said, "During tacio Zapata has now the challenging where similar conditions exist. the construction of the tertiary and quar­ task of re-establishing a Junta de Re­ Transfer of low intensity manage­ ternary canals, we realized the disadvan­ gentes along the model of Azua and ment technologies such as those tages of fragmented lands. We agreed Yaque del Norte. Mr. Zapata decided to seen in the Dominican Republic and within the group to consolidate and geo­ start organizing nucleos and groups at in Mediterranean countries is in­ metrize our plots. " the tail end of the system where the water credibly slow, due to bureaucratic Next day I visited the Yaque del Norte is the most unreliable and farmers will be constraints and perceptions of over­ in the north of the island. "We increased easier to motivate. One-fifth of the Nizao sophistication. • the water charges from RD 18 pesos to area is now organized into seven groups. 8 THE BANK'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 Life After the Bank by Jill Roessner Reorganization. Everyone at Headquar­ ters was affected. And some were affect­ ed more than others. This is a story about some of the people who left the Bank and embarked on new careers. onald Bloomfield joined the Bank D in December 1971. You may have known him as Chief of the Records Man­ agement Division or, more recently, when he served on the staff of the Plan­ ning Division of ITF. When he first left the Bank, he took some salaried work, teaching a course at the College of Li­ brary and Information Services at the University of Maryland, and consulting for the Arab Monetary Fund. Now he owns his own bookstore, specializing in out-of-print books. "It had been a pipe dream of mine, the sort of thing you speculate about, but I wouldn't have had the nerve to pull up stakes and do it," he says, quite content at the tW11 of events that led to his be­ coming proprietor of the Book Cellar in Bethesda, Maryland. 'Multum in parvo' The store is in the basement of 8227 Woodmont Avenue, at the,corner of Bat­ tery Lane, and bibliophiles will be en­ thralled by the vast selection of titles. The store's motto" multum in parvo"­ much in a small space-is entirely apt. About half-a-mile of shelving holds some 40,000 titles acquired by Mr. Bloom­ field's predecessors, as well as more re­ cent purchases that he's made since buy­ ing the store last July. He is the third owner-the Book Cellar was started by Harry Bell of the State Department and his wife in 1976. Mrs. Bell, incidentally, Donald Bloomfield in the Book Cellar. Photos by Jill Roessner founded the Foreign Service Wives An­ nual Book Sale, which has become a Washington tradition . After Mrs. Bell's "They know the stock far better than I ter at St. Anselm's Abbey School. Their death, her husband asked family friends do," says Mr. Bloomfield. three sons and a daughter, all in their to help him with the shop, and two of Mrs. Bloomfield helps her husband on 20s, are sometimes prevailed upon these ladies are still there, having stayed Saturdays, but has kept her regular job as to help haul books out of the family base­ through two changes of ownership. Administrative Assistant to the Headmas- ment (which is used for extra storage THE BANK ' S WORLD / MARCH 1989 9 space) but "they are not a major factor in stitutes a first edition. "It's not an exact to change the way the books have been the store," says their father who evident­ science," he points out and, to some arranged over the years, pointing out ly does most of the fetching and carrying extent, he is learning as he goes along. He that he doesn't want to "rattle the cus­ himself, and has lost a couple of pounds buys from various SOillces, including es­ tomers." His stock covers a range of as a result. "I get more exercise in this tate sales, and he makes house calls, subject matter but "it would be hard to job and it's probably healthier." observing that it's easier to be discrimi­ do a World Bank project appraisal on Mr. Bloomfield has always loved books nating about the books he buys when the this; there's no proper inventory," he and been an avid reader, but not a collec­ sellers haven't had to carry them to the says, gesturing toward signs for books in tor of rare editions. However, there are shop. dozens of different categories, from Au­ price guides, and guides as to what con­ Mr. Bloomfield has made no attempt tos, Botany and Child Care to Ships and The Music Man Fox. It has become the largest sheet mu­ sic distributor in the tri-state area in ad­ '. dition to renting (and selling) some 800 musical instruments a year, mostly to the local school systems. But The Foxes is perhaps best known for its music school which has given private lessons to some 16,000 students over the last three-and-a­ half decades. The school uses the Suzuki teaching method, and there are currently 275 pupils enrolled (including dozens of Bank and Fund children) with 12 profes­ sional teachers (graduates of JuUiard and Eastman among them) giving lessons in the seven studios every afternoon and evening. All band and orchestra instru­ ments are taught, along with some gui­ tar. When Mrs. Fox (at age 83) sold the enterprise, she had some conditions­ that the name be kept, and that certain Jim Edmonds at work and play. employees be retained for at least a year. "That was ideal for me," said Mr. Ed­ "I can playa lot of instruments- badly," says Jim Edmonds, des­ the Bank to those staff whose positions did not survive reorganization), Mr. Ed­ monds, pointing out that he had no retail experience and was glad to inherit knowl­ edgeable help. In addition to the music cribing how, after 24 years in the Bank, monds knew what he didn't want­ teachers, he employs six salespeople, a Fund and ADB, he is now owner of The namely another administrative position bookkeeper and a maintenance person, Foxes Music Company in Falls Church, in a U.N. agency. He is tremendously as well as a registrar for the school. Virginia. Mr. Edmonds (who most re­ appreciative of the testing and counseling He's taking music lessons too, on the cently managed the Bank's Parking Of­ provided, and is delighted with the re­ guitar and recorder. So, maybe soon he'll fice) allows that really his new venture sults of taking the consultants' advice. be able to say, "I playa couple of instru­ "just fell out of the sky." He was looking "My professional background in Per­ ments-quite well!" rill for a business opportunity, but it could sonnel Services is certainly useful- it's equally well have been in photography or still a question of service, trying to ac­ The Faxes Music Company, 809 West printing and graphics, which also interest commodate people," he says. But that's Broad Street, Falls Church, Virginia. him. But The Foxes came on the mar­ about all the two careers have in com­ Open Monday through Saturday, 10 ket-and he bought. mon. a.m. to 8 p.m. Music lessons after Mter three months, counseling from The Foxes Music Company was found­ school, 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays. Tele­ Wright Associates (a service provided by ed more than 30 years ago by Dorothy phone: 533-7393. 10 THE BANK'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 the Sea, Performing Arts and Judaica, seven days a week-it's not ajob you can a commercial spot for the Book Cellar. along with some rather esoteric catego­ do, then go home." He compares his new Seeing the juvenile books reminded him ries such as Firefighting and Worlds career to his work in Records Manage­ of a series he'd loved as a child. He Fairs. Plays are subdivided by language . ment: "Then I had to hope that I helped couldn't remember the titles, but knew You can find books for 50 cents, or you my staff help Bank staff who, in tum, that each had a color in its name. He could spend as much as $500 if you're helped the people in the field-it was all browsed for a moment, "Here's one. tempted by, say, a first American edition very remote and there was very little 'The Crimson Flash.'" Delighted with his of Darwin's The Origin of Species, one of feedback. Here, if you find something discovery, he described the find to his the most expensive tomes currently avail­ someone wants, you get an immediate radio listeners. able. And, if you're looking for a gift and reaction. You can see that they are The Book Cellar is open seven days a you can't decide which book to choose, pleased." week, Monday through Friday , 11 a.m. there are gift certificates. One person who was pleased was a to6p.m., Saturday 10a.m. toSp.m., Bethesda has at least five second-hand radio announcer who came in to record and Sunday 11 a. m. to S p. m. bookshops, but what distinguishes the II Book Cellar is its high percentage of for­ eign language material. You can find books in Dutch, Hungarian, Romanian, Greek, Arabic, Russian, Bulgarian, Ko­ A Rising Star rean and other languages scattered throughout the store within the various "You can go to school to learn lots of categories. For example, you might find things and pretty well be guaranteed a a travel book on Indonesia, written in job," she says, "but in acting there are no German, or a guide to North American guarantees; it's a field of rejection." trees written in French. It's not surpris­ After nine years at the Bank though, ing that Mr. Bloomfield discovered quite the Parking Office activities were con­ a few Bank staff among the regular visi­ tracted out and Ms. Sanders' position tors. became redundant. She found herself in a situation she describes as "an actor's Very little overlap dream." The funds she received gave her If the Book Cellar doesn't have a par­ the financial freedom to devote all her ticularvolume, Mr. Bloomfield offers a time-at least for a while- to pursuing search service or he sends the prospec­ her goal. Janice L. Sanders tive purchaser to the other dealers in the She looks the part. Tall, slender, with area. "We're really not competing with a dancer's grace and radiating confi­ one another," he says. "There's very lit­ Janice Sanders grew up in the '60s. dence, you can easily visualize her on tle overlap. It might be different if we "Back then, I wanted to save the world," stage. And it looks as though that's where were carrying the current best sellers but she says. "I thought maybe I could be­ she's going to be. The dream is coming people know you can't have every out-of­ come a lawyer and help the oppressed true. Last year, she appeared in her first print book in anyone shop, so if we can't and downtrodden." But, somewhere professional role in "Safe Sex" at the help, we're glad to suggest other places along the way, she got the acting bug, Source Theatre. She got good reviews that might." To this end, Mr. Bloomfield and now instead of saving people she says and now has a contract with a newly­ has drawn up a map of the area showing she "just wants to entertain them." formed theatre company, The Takoma the location of the five used and rare However, having married at 18, given Players. book dealers in the vicinity. He's given birth to a daughter, and being divorced By the time you read this, she'll have copies of the map to local hotels and to by 21, she had to make her living in a less appeared in "Legacy" in a supporting his four counterparts who were receptive uncertain field. She quotes an alarming part ("there are no small roles, only to the cooperative effort. "It's rather like statistic: "Ninety-two percent of actors small actors, ")"Shades of Grey" and, in antique shops that tend to be clustered in are out of work most of the time!" And March, she has a part in "Reunion in a particular area," he notes. "The greater so, she ended up in the Parking Office at Bartersville." selection that several shops can offer at­ the Bank, her dreams of a theatrical Where does she go from here? "Wash­ tracts more business for everyone. " career put on hold. Eventually, she was ington has really come alive as a theatre And how is business? "You don't go able to afford evening classes at the town," she replies, mentioning the Ken­ I into used books to get rich," says Mr. Georgetown National Conservatory of nedy Center, the National Theatre, the Bloomfield grinning, obviously satisfied Dramatic Arts-but she still had to sup­ Warner, Ford's ... "but Broadway is only by the rewards he is reaping. "It's differ­ port herself and keep working steadily. 30 minutes away by plane ... " II ent. It's yours to concern yourself with THE BANK ' S WORLD / MARCH 1989 11 MIGA: Breaking Down Barriers Yoshio Terasawa Yoshio Terasawa, Executive Vice President of the Multilateral not normally get from a commercial lender, not even always Investment Guarantee Agency, recently spoke before the Wash­ from a World Bank loan. ington International Business Council. Here are excerpts from Fourth, foreign direct investors can energize the development his remarks: of local entrepreneurial capacity, stimulate local competition and engender so-called" upstream and downstream effects." arber Conable, the Bank's and MIGA's President, has spo­ B ken of private resources as "the last great, untapped reservoir for development." According to IMF data, the total For all these reasons, direct investment has a potential to yield high returns for both investors and their hosts. Further, it should be possible to mobilize foreign direct investment for good proj­ going to Third World countries is now only about $10 billion a ects in developing countries, despite these countries' balance-of­ year, just two-thirds of the volume in 1981 and only some 10 payments and other problems. percent of total capital flows from the industrial nations to the And there is clear evidence that investing in developing coun­ developing ones. tries can still be profitable-all problems notwithstanding. For The bulk of the money, of course, is lending-commercial and example, from 1980 through 1985, U.S. foreign direct invest­ official. But voluntary commercial lending to developing coun­ ment paid off at a rate of 11.7 percent in developed countries tries has dropped dramatically in the wake of the world debt and at almost half again as good a rate- 17 percent-in devel­ crisis, and the recent volume of loans is clearly inadequate to oping ones. meet the need for productive capital in the poor and middle­ And those returns on capital do not count the benefits in income countries. improved or expanded productive capacity that these profitable If you look at foreign lending and foreign direct investment as projects generate in the nations which attract and foster them. alternatives in terms of the interests of both developing nations Given the obvious force of these observations about the and potential investors, there are striking differences. Let me positive impact of foreign direct investment, what then explains point out some important contrasts. its sharp decline and continuing stagnation in the developing First, borrower countries end up with liabilities to service and world? to repay loans that mayor may not have brought added earnings from exports or broad economic growth. Equity holders, on the ne obvious factor has been America's need for outside other hand, get repaid only if and to the extent that their finances to cover its massive trade and budget deficits. The investments yield returns. amount of surplus capital that has gone into U.S. Treasury notes, Second, direct investment is tied to specific projects. Unlike American real estate and industry obviously diminishes the many development loans, it does not ease capital flight and global supply for other investment opportunities. aggravate Third World balance-of-payments problems. But the decisions of investors to risk their funds in the United Third, investors from abroad usually put more than money States rather, say, than in Latin America has less to do with into the projects they back. They typically add an integrated market demand than with business psychology. The U.S. is seen package of managerial skills, technical know-how, manpower as a very safe proposition. Many Third World bidders for capital training and marketing connections-extra ingredients you do must overcome a strong perception of political risk-a non­ 12 THE BANK 'S WORLD / MARCH 1989 performs a broker's role in bringing host countries and the investment potentials they hold together with foreign investors interested in taking a stake in those productive opportunities. Our agency will not sit back waiting for business to come to MIGA will provide guarantees it. although, I might add, we do already have a number of applications on file. against restrictions on Instead, MIGA will actively offer its advice, its promotional repatriating investment proceeds skills, its legal and technical expertise to the foreign investment community and the developing nations now on the lookout for in convertible currency as well as foreign investors. The number of such nations is growing. Indeed, that positive. upward trend is the force that really war, revolution and civil strife­ accounts for MIGA's existing at all. I plan to be an energetic salesman for the message I have just conceivably even terrorism and outlined: foreign investment is a good proposition for hosts and sabotage. investors alike. But in many developing nations where that argument once met a largely skeptical reception, I believe it is winning significant converts. Compared to previous decades when restrictions on the entry, activities and operations of foreign investors proliferated in the Third World, a liberalizing current has set in. But good intentions can only bring good results if the nations that are changing their attitudes to foreign investment get the changes right and get the message of change out to the interna­ commercial barrier that decisively impedes their intake of the tional investment community. capital and technology they need to grow and to sustain their growth. hat brings me to MIGA's second mandate. In addition to MIGA is in business- first of all-to break down that barrier. offering insurance protection, MIGA is mandated to advise And in our first fiscal year, we have a total underwriting capacity developing country governments to attract foreign investments of roughly $1 billion to be used to reduce non-commercial risks and to promote the creation of hospitable investment conditions. of doing business in the developing member countries that have This places us in a key match-making position between host already ratified our charter and joined the 12 leading industrial countries and investors. nations as founding members of the agency. Our role-including our research functions- I should stress That underwriting base-and I can imagine our global under­ is very much part of a broader World Bank Group effort to assist writing capacity rising over time to some $6 billion- enables in advancing private sector development generally. Together MIGA to offer private investors insurance against many forms with the International Finance Corporation, the Bank's private of non-commercial risk. sector affiliate. MIGA operates the Foreign Investment Advisory Service as ajoint facility. IGA will provide guarantees against restrictions on repa­ As an agent in the field, MIGA will also be a source of advice, M triating investment proceeds in convertible currency as well as war, revolution and civil strife--conceivably even terror­ within the World Bank Group, on policy measures to encourage the growth of foreign direct investment in specific situations and ism and sabotage. It will also insure against host government countries. In fact, MIGA's specialization in the promotion of breach of contract and against the danger of either outright foreign direct investment to developing countries makes it the expropriation or indirect and creeping expropriation, confisca­ World Bank Group's window to the corporate investor. tory taxes, discriminatory delays in granting import/ export MIGA is, in short, part of an important team effort. We know licenses, and the like. that private sector development itself is only part of an overall MIGA will be able to extend insurance coverage to all types development strategy. And we know that foreign direct invest­ of equity investments. ment is only one source of private sector growth. I expect that our own resources will playa significant finan­ Foreign investment, however, is a resource that needs to be cial role on their own. I intend that they should also have a and can be significantly expanded. As a foreign investor myself strong catalytic impact in generating co-insurance from the before I came to MIGA, I think I know some of the pitfalls and advanced nations' investment guarantee institutions as well as restraints. from private insurers. I also know the rewards of overcoming them. Insurance coverage, however, is only going to be our final I am happy to face the challenge of helping others-both product. MIGA will issue its guarantees in most cases after it investors and their future hosts- to reap those rewards. III THE BANK'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 13 Show and Sell Benefits United Way A Fashionable Event by Morallina Fanwar-George •• A nd the next item is this beauti­ ful two-piece cotton outfit," shouts the auctioneer trying to be heard above the loud cheering of the crowd as a model glides onto the stage wearing a black cotton blouse over a red, black and white print skirt. She twirls, spreading the width of the skirt with her hands and takes a bow. "Any bids?" continues the auctioneer. "Fifty dollars," yells a voice at the back. "Fifty. Do I hear $60?" "Sixty!" "Sixty-five! " The auctioneer manages to get a word in. "Do I hear $70?" "Seventy!" comes an eager rejoinder. "Eighty-five! " The bidding continues a few minutes longer. "One hundred and ten. Going once. Going twice. Going thrice!" The auc­ tioneer wipes his brow and takes a long deep breath before proceeding with the next item on the list. All in all, the occa­ sion is unlike most departmental meet­ ings. The auction-high-pitched excitement and jolly competitive bidding- was held late last year in the J building auditorium by and for the Africa Sahelian Depart­ "Made in Senegal," a two-piece cotton print outfit, modeled by Joy Walsh. ment. Photos by Jill Roessner Now you're mystified: Why are we auctioning fashionable clothes, jewelry and accessories in the Bank? Is this a new and marketing in developing countries. ed new product directions in various sec­ type of investment? NIEDA was hired to undertake a survey tors: textile and apparel, jewelry and Well, it's a long story. in Mauritania and Senegal to assess the home furnishings. potential for exports, based on local ma­ In November, they submitted their Mauritania and Senegal terials, traditional craft skills, and exist­ recommendations: "Senegal can be posi­ It was in the summer of 1988 when ing manufacturing capabilities. tioned for a major export breakthrough the Industry and Energy Division of the Staff from NIEDA, including a in the textile, garment, jewelry and home Sahelian Department (AF5IE) began dis­ technician/designer from Rome, trav­ furnishings industries by focusing on the cussions with New Ideas for Export De­ eled to Senegal and Mauritania in Sep­ innovative utilization of its natural re­ velopment Aid, Inc. (NIEDA), a New tember. They spent their time working sources, craft skills, the talent of its ar­ York-based non-profit organization that with the local manufacturers, artisans tists and its small, medium and large provides technical assistance and train­ and artists and creating with them a manufacturing infrastructure." It would ing in product development, production small collection of samples that illustrat­ not be just one industry or manufacturer 14 THE BANK 'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 brought the first samples of the outfits, jewelry and other accessories that had been made to show a limited number of department store buyers and representa­ tives in New York and Milan. At the conclusion of these presenta­ tions, AF5IE inherited the beautiful dresses, suits, sweaters, casual wear, ties, handbags, necklaces, shirts, jackets, rain­ coats, and more . Everyone took a look at the collection-so out of place in a closet in the J building-and brooded over what was to become of it. Until one day, Jean­ Francois Bauer, Division Chief, AF5IE, asked, "How about a quick and simple showing with the sale of the clothes to anyone interested and donating the pro­ ceeds to the United Way?" The idea was unanimously endorsed by staff in the de­ partment and evolved into a fashion show and an auction. So, with the support of Department Director Michael Gillette, Joy Walsh, an Administrative Assistant in his office who was also the Department's United Way Coordinator, channeled her energy into planning and organizing the event. Great performers Within 24 hours, the show was ready. The outfits were modeled by staff mem­ bers who, even though quite inexperi­ enced in this line, were great performers. "And Lily King, of the Front Office, did a wonderful job writing the descriptions of the clothes and narrating the show as well as modeling some of the garments," remarks Ms. Walsh. The auction could not have been such Roshanak Rezakhanlou, SPRSP, wears a raincoat made in Mauritania with fabric from a success without Paul Geli, the auc­ Senegal. tioneer, a Project Adviser, AF5DR, whose humor kept the auction light-hearted, fun and exciting. After vigorous bidding, producing the export gannents, but rath­ ducing hand-made jewelry and accesso­ not a single item was left. The auction er ajoint venture of different resource ries- such as belts, matching shoulder or raised nearly $1 ,OOO-all of which was skills, manufacturers and industries. hand bags, scarves, umbrellas. The donated to the United Way Campaign. For example, a material was picked whole idea was to produce not just a And many staff members in the depart­ and bought from one of the local- of­ single outfit, but an ensemble of coordi­ ment went home that day a bit poorer but tentimes handloom-industries. Gar­ nates and complementaries. owning an original gannent and satisfied ment factory workers were then given NIEDA presented a detailed plan of knowing that their money went to a some technical assistance to learn addi­ action and proposed a technical assis­ worthwhile cause. tional techniques and skills to make the tance program to help the Senegalese "It was great fun ," concludes Ms. high-quality and quality-controlled prepare a full-fledged collection in time Walsh. "We were able to get the samples clothes. Designs and drawings came for next autumn's fashion shows in Eu­ off our hands and raise a good amount from bids from local artists, and the wood rope and the U.S. When NIEDA submit­ for the United Way without too much and metal industries collaborated by pro­ ted its report to AF5IE in October, it also effort. " Which is always in fashion. .. III THE BANK'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 15 Borrowers Participate in Armed with this, the borrowers dis­ cussed possible solutions within their res­ Bank Workshop pective groups. This was followed by an energetic debate with panelists acting as moderators. Case Study Approach There were diverse reactions to the discussion. "What made it most interest­ ing was that it allowed me to see a prob­ Hailed a Success lem through a new perspective," says Towfik Burhan, representing South Ye­ men's Ministry of Construction and Housing. "I certainly learned much more than I would have taking notes." Ghazi Mohammed, Chairman of by Indira Ranganathan Sana'a, Saddah and Hajjah Agricultural Development, agrees. "Often, there were "I never thought I could have such a good time doing something ence's interest. "Evenjet lag didn't stop them from participating enthusiastically no right or wrong answers. I learned quite a bit by listening to the other groups work-oriented. But don't tell my boss I from the first day," says Mr. Rangana­ defending their viewpoints." said that!" laughs Kamel Radwan, Direc­ than of the attendees, many of whom had But the borrowers were not the only tor General for Financing of the Egyptian arrived in Washington only 12 hours be­ ones who benefited from the exercise. Public Authority for Drainage Projects. fore the sessions began. The Bank panelists felt they learned as Egypt and three other borrower coun­ Francesco Scaduto-Mendola, Senior much from the visiting participants. tries sent Mr. Radwan, along with 19 Financial Analyst in EM3AG and a grad­ "This kind of brainstorming helps every­ other mid-level managers, to Washington uate of the Harvard Business School, has one in a different way," says Cecil Per­ from November 14 to 23, 1988, to learn his own opinion: "You're more likely to era, a disbursement expert. The work­ the finer points of procurement and dis­ fall asleep in a straight lecture. The case shop offered other opportunities as well bursement by attending a uniquely struc­ study method is more stimulating." for the mid-level managers who normally tured workshop sponsored by the Bank's And it is well-known for its hands-on do not have a chance to travel abroad. It Agriculture Division in EMENA Region. approach to actual situations a borrower has "given them an occasion to learn Though most would agree that the sub­ is likely to encounter. Mr. Ranganathan firsthand how the Bank thinks," states an jects of procurement and disbursement likens it to teaching an infant to swim by enthusiastic Mr. Garg. are not the most scintillating, the work­ pushing him into the water. "He'll have shop was hailed" an exciting event" by to learn how to swim. It's a more prag­ Disneyworld all its participants. matic way of getting your point across. Business included pleasure as the par­ You're not just teaching a theory, but ticipants were given an opportunity to Harvard Business School giving a situation in which you maximize savor their new surroundings over the What made it stand apart from most benefits in order to survive," he says. weekend. Several traveled as far as Flor­ other meetings? The answer is its use of ida to experience the ultimate American the Harvard Business School case study Volunteer lecturers invention, Disneyworld. Still others style of presentation. The idea of using Another plus was that, due to their chose to explore Washington. primarily case study methods along with novel approach, the workshop's organiz­ "I appreciated the scale on which peo­ two days of lectures was conceived by ers were able to attract 15 different vol­ ple do things in Washington," says Maria Prem Garg, Chief, EM3AG; Arturo Roa, unteer lecturers from across the Bank. de Sousa, a civil engineer from the Por­ Procurement Adviser, EMENA; and C.P. Thus, the need for paid consultant speak­ tuguese Public Works Department and Ranganathan, Senior Procurement Engi­ ers did not arise. the only woman participant. "Every­ neer and the workshop's coordinator. Each day, a different team of panelists thing is so spectacular! Even the grocery The case study method was chosen for comprising five to six Bank Operational stores." its ability to capture and hold an audi­ staff with procurement and disbursement At the farewell luncheon held at the expertise challenged groups of partici­ Westpark Hotel's rooftop restaurant, Mr. Editor's note: Indira Ranganathan, pants with realistic problems. Each par­ Burhan, ending his first trip to Wash­ daughter of c.p Ranganathan, is pre­ ticipant received a binder containing ington, was asked to pick between the sently doing her post-graduate work in Bank guidelines, a variety of case studies city and the workshop. "I loved both Journalism at the University of Mary­ emphasizing key elements in procure­ Washington and the workshop-----they're land and will be attending Oxford Uni­ ment and disbursement philosophy, and both so well organized," he responded, a versity next year to study Law. information essential to each case. true diplomat. EiID 16 THE BANK 'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 Emmanuel Asibey: A Voice Crying for the Wilderness by Lawrence Mastri , , N ame names! Tell us who the the Forest Products Research Institute. "Wildlife is a profession requiring corrupt officers are! Other­ Now, as a new senior ecologist in Africa scientific knowledge," Mr. Asibey de­ wise, it just demoralizes and gives the Region's Environment Division, Mr. Asi­ clares. "Being hardy and armed are not whole service a bad name!" bey brings his expertise, hard-headed­ enough-then we have armed gangs We've been discussing the recent news ness-and passion-to addressing wild­ fighting other armed gangs. There are stories about poaching in Africa and the life issues in Bank operations. "We are too many important aspects to this work. alleged complicity of wildlife officials. delighted to have found someone with an It's more than chasing poachers." He Now, Emmanuel Asibey is out-and-out African perspective on wildlife issues," regrets that wildlife issues are too often rankled. As head of Ghana's Forestry says AFTEN Division Chief Leif Christof­ narrowed to large, spectacular animals Commission since 1980, he's been on the fersen. or, in local economies, to timber produc­ front lines of wildlife conservation-he Mr. Asibey has battled his entire career tion and tourism. "How sad it is when knows the frustration. Still, the inter­ to gain respect for wildlife management. wildlife is only important for tourism," viewer is nonplussed. Mr. Asibey is a man Seeing the need for training wildlife man­ he says. "What does it mean for villa­ with 28 years civil service history-a sea­ agement professionals in Ghana, he cam­ gers? Most can little afford a trip to a soned bureaucrat. The last thing we ex­ paigned for a local training facility. This neighboring village. They don't see the pect is passion. led to the establishment of the Institute of advantage of wildlife from their point of "Show local people the benefits of con­ Renewable Natural Resources. Recogniz­ view." servation ... get them involved! Then we ing the importance of agroforestry as an The wider social and economic impor­ will reduce poaching and fight corrup­ emerging field, he helped create the tance of wildlife is clear. Wild animals tion." Agroforestry Unit within the Ministry of can supplement the family diet, saving Agriculture. Encouraging the breeding domestic animals from butchering~r 'Office rat' syndrome of wild animals as a local resource, he the smallholder can profit by selling the Neither corruption nor bureaucracy pioneered the domestication of the bushmeat on the open market. Food and has ever dimmed Emmanuel Asibey's "woodcutter" (cane rat). medicine derived from forest products passion for wildlife issues. Earning his Ph.D. in Forestry from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1960, he returned to Ghana and joined the civil service, determined to avoid the "office rat" syn­ drome. His energy and enthusiasm pro­ pelled him through the ranks. Within five years, he was Chief Game and Wildlife Officer of Forestry's newly created Wild­ life Department. In 1967, he developed Ghana's first National Park-Mole Na­ tional Park. He drafted Ghana's first Wildlife Conservation Policy in 1974. And in 1980, the government directed him to organize Ghana's Forestry Commission. This agency consolidated the Forestry Department, Department of Game and Wildlife, Timber Marketing Board, and I Editor's note: Lawrence Mastri provides editorial and administrative services for Emmanuel Asibey's other great love-cooking-allows him extravagant use of resources. "Conservation should not be an issue when adding spice," he says. Photo by Lawrence Mastri AFTEN. THE BANK'S WORLD / MARCH 1989 17 intimacy with our surroundings, from our wild plants and animals," he warns, "we care increasingly less and less about 'For wildlife management their conservation and availability for posterity. " to succeed in Africa, This is not anti-development. "We it must be viewed need electricity in our rural areas at rea­ sonable cost," insists Mr. Asibey. "If, as another form of land use. however, transmission lines passing through an area will destroy an impor­ If you reserve land for tant cultural heritage or a resource base wildlife, you nlust realize which cannot be restored, found else­ where, or be relocated, then alternatives you are competing with must be examined." Mr. Asibey sees environmental issues other forms of land use ... ' cutting across all sectors of Bank opera­ tions: "Conservation measures are re­ -- Emmanuel Asibey quired to integrate wild animal manage­ ment with other forms of land use and economic development plans." But, he cautions, in any Bank project the local people's or target group's perception of benefits is critical: "Without grass roots support, conservation will fail." offer obvious benefits for rural people. Ghana, and throughout Mrica, cannot Wild plants and animals, already used for depend on intangible values. Conserva­ Philosophical discussion food, will provide improved species and tion for conservation's sake. By integrat­ Finally, it is wildlife's niche in Africa's sources to feed growing populations. ing social and economic perceptions into heart and soul that fires Mr. Asibey. "The forest is our pharmacy," says Mr. environmental measures, the odds for "Wildlife means culture to us," he af­ Asibey. "Timber is only part of its success increase greatly." firms. "There is hardly an animal in our wealth." Conservation is not new among indi­ language which does not find its way into Labeling himself a "conservationist, genous peoples. Rites and taboos have idiom, story or philosophical discussion. not a preservationist, " Mr. Asibey be­ always guided resource use. The killing These idioms reflect the richness and lieves in a hands-on approach to wildlife of an animal or the felling of a tree was beauty of language and the culture to management. "Conservation means wise preceded by sacrifice or ritual. Taboos which it gives expression. use of nature's resources, ," he explains. against washing or laundering near "I remember talking to an old chief, a "For wildlife management to succeed in sources prevented water contamination. man known in his youth as a great hun­ Africa, it must be viewed as another form Farming near springs or doing anything ter. He was very concerned about his of land use. If you reserve land for wild­ to destroy the vegetation cover protect­ grandchildren, concerned they would life, you must realize you are competing ing the community water source was for­ never know what real hunters were, with other forms of land use ... success in bidden. In these proscriptions, there was what the animals were. He offered tribal wildlife management is to marry percep­ an implicit design to use resources wise­ lands to the government to ensure this tions and benefits for local people." ly, to limit the number of animals killed. heritage would be saved. He knew the importance of it for his people." Sustainable policy Festival floundered Mr. Asibey worries about his grand­ Perception is a key word in Mr. Asi­ Mr. Asibey believes traditional norms children too. It inspired him to write a bey's arena- the Bank's perception of compare favorably with modern conser­ children's book about animals, consider­ institutional strengths and weaknesses; vational ethics. Now trees are felled with­ ing there might be a time when they government's perception of local peo­ out remorse and animals are slaughtered wouldn't know what the animals were. ple's needs; and, as he stresses repeat­ for sport. In Ghana last year, the annual "The destruction of our wildlife is the edly, local people's perception of conser­ "Aboakyer" festival floundered when destruction of our culture," he wrote. vation benefits. All must harmonize to none of the antelopes- traditionally "We can be forgiven if we are unable to orchestrate a sustainable environmental hunted and formerly plentiful---could be get to the moon, but not when we abuse policy. "It's true," says Mr. Asibey. found. Depletion of forests, bushfires and and neglect traditional and cultural iden­ "Things stand or fall apart because of lack of re-afforestation had simply driven tity. " perception. Conservation of wildlife in the animals away. "When we lose an You can't argue with passion. Ei1 18 THE BANK'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 Priorities by Ann Hammond lthough we don't hear much said independent, impartial bodies: the Ap­ agerial skills. Various individuals and A about it these days, we think the Board, management and staff all still peals Committee, comprising individu­ als chosen jointly by staff and manage­ groups are responsible for identifying col­ leagues with" managerial potential," and share as a priority the objective of staff ment on the basis of high ~egard for their for selecting for ever-higher levels of re­ being treated "fairly and equitably." As wisdom, fairness and objectivity; and the sponsibility those individuals who have staff don't seem to perceive they are Administrative Tribunal, a panel of seven demonstrated their capabilities. being treated this way, and some even men, internationally renowned jurists After six years of survey feedback, seem to doubt management's good inten­ who draw on their collective knowledge staff perceive that managers who have tions, it may be useful to scrutinize some of international law and accepted legal clearly not demonstrated the capacity to of the policies and processes put in place practice in major member countries. inspire confidence among their staff or over the years, to see which of them may The courage, perseverance and costs leadership to meet development chal­ need reform. required to press an individual case lenges, nevertheless remain in place or • Various interventions have aimed at through the system are enormous, as is are promoted, and that nationality pref­ improving career development. These the risk of being branded a "trouble­ erences remain as one of the "transpar­ have included more in-house training maker." The judgment of the Appeals ent" managerial selection criteria. To courses, a performance planning and re­ Committee can be overridden by that of further compound the problem, manage­ view system to map strategies for devel­ a single senior manager, and there has ment does not provide staff a continuing oping skills, a revised grading structure been a reluctance to implement recent opportunity to give feedback on mana­ meant to define career paths and impose Administrative Tribunal rulings that have gers. greater objectivity in recognizing levels of been in favor of staff. Staff wonder why • The compensation system was set responsibility, sector panels to manage management undermines the very pro­ up to bring about consistency and fair­ recruitments and reassignments, and a cesses it has established. ness in compensation practice. For sever­ career information center. Policy and • The institution engages in an attack al years, management has observed the rule statements have emerged to better on poverty and advocates more effective system when it is convenient to do so, define the mechanisms of career prog­ integration of women in the development and otherwise considered it as a loose set ress. process. Member governments claim to of guidelines. The results are severe ero­ Yet Personnel increasingly tells staff espouse equal employment opportunities sion in competitiveness, rampant confu­ that their expectations are unrealistic, and decry discrimination. Yet the institu­ sion over how compensation decisions that career development is their individ­ tion attempts to run on managerial and are made, a widening gap in income dis­ ual responsibility, that they should not technical staff made up predominantly of tribution, and a precipitous decline in equate career development with promo­ one gender and perpetuates a two-tiered staff satisfaction with salaries. Staff and tion nor aspire to promotion because it system of employees. Staff Association managerial anger and disillusionment would limit their opportunities to transfer studies document bias in pay and promo­ divert energy from doing the business of or because there are not enough posi­ tion for women in particular occupation­ the Bank. Management's response is to tions to go around. One result is that only al categories, and how perceptions and push into place, by an arbitrary May 1 20 people out of 3,176 respondents to the systems work against equal treatment. deadline, a system likely to exacerbate 1988 Staff Survey felt that Personnel pol­ Staff looks for greater consistency be­ distinctions among categories of staff and icies and practices are very helpful in tween values advocated externally and further aggravate the unhealed wounds furthering career growth in the Bank, practiced internally. of reorganization. The alternative of tak­ and 1,340 reported that these procedures • Senior management periodically ing the time and diligence necessary to have exactly the contrary effect. Only 58 issues a pamphlet entitled "Managing ensure that a future system is technically respondents felt strongly that career de­ People in the World Bank Group, " that sound, administratively transparent and cisions are made on an objective, job­ describes the values and behaviors man­ acceptable to staff is not a managerial related basis, while 1,055 felt strongly agers are expected to exhibit. Hundreds priority. that they are not. of thousands of dollars are invested an­ Greater consistency between stated • Management established a process nually in a management development goals and demonstrated impact of these for reviewing administrative decisions training program to give managers an processes and policies is our priority in opportunity to gain insight into them­ the coming year. We invite those of you t . when a staff member feels aggrieved. This process includes hearings by two selves and others and develop their man­ who share this priority to join us. 1:1 THE BANK 'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 19 Letters to the Editor To the Editor: by a Kenyan social scientist, under joint To the Editor: I'd like to take this opportunity to ex­ terms of reference for the Tarta and Athi Thank you for the article about my press our heartfelt appreciation and gra­ Rivers Development Authority voluntary work with persons with AIDS. titude to all at the World Bank who so (TARDA)--the Borrower, and the Bank, I have had a lot of feedback from readers generously collected canned foods and and funded by the U.K. Overseas Devel­ and I thought I should share some of the non-perishables for our self-help Food opment Administration, has established comments with you. Club in December through the D.C. Cor­ this number at about 6,000 people. The Within 24 hours of publication, I was porate Volunteer Council. Your participa­ survey has also found that compared to inundated with calls from staff with tion was a real boost for our food pro­ their new neighbors (who were surveyed friends living with AIDS, from those who gram currently serving 100 families in as a comparator group), the displaced would like to volunteer for clinic service, the Benning Marshall Heights neighbor­ people are experiencing a severe fall in and from those who are themselves living hood. Each member picks up two nutri­ their standard of living. with AIDS. Perhaps the most encourag­ tionally balanced bags of food each Food TARDA has effected cash compensa­ ing feedback has been the understanding Club Day monthly. tion to those displaced and has improved that staff have of the disease. There is communication in the area by building very little fear and it is understood that Gratefully, all-weather roads. It is undertaking af­ AIDS is difficult to contract. Thanks must Sister Patricia Mary, S.A. forestation within the project area, and is go to the Medical Department for their Director supporting a water supply scheme, a treatment of the epidemic- they are in­ SOME Southeast Center vector-borne diseases survey and reloca­ formed, compassionate, and caring. tion or improvement of schools. But I would like to thank Morallina more needs to be done to ensure fully Fanwar-George for presenting the well­ To the Editor: satisfactory resettlement. written article and for telling my story in I would like to present information The Bank and TARDA are further the way she did. about the Kiambere Hydrolectric Proj­ cooperating on this least tractable issue AIDS will be with us for a long time ect, which amplifies The Bank's World of an otherwise successful project by dis­ and we willieam more and more about article (February 1989) on the Nairobi cussing, in the framework of the Bank's it as we go along. I look to The Bank's office staff guided tour to the dam site. The Kiambere project is contributing resettlement policy, possible further as­ World for future updates on the disease sistance to ensure that after a reason­ II and how we can support those who are 140 MW to Kenya's national energy ca­ able transition period, the displaced peo­ living with it. pacity. As frequently is the case with hydropower projects, this nationally ben­ ple regain at least their previous standard Susan Struthers, PUBDR of living. " eficial project has entailed displacement of the local population. In the case of Mary Dyson, ENV Kiambere, a survey conducted in 1987 Around the Bank Medical Road Show in these sessions are malaria, immuniza­ more areas of the world are developing II tions, diarrheal diseases, automobile ac­ strains of chloroquine-resistant malaria." The Health Services Department has cidents, and AIDS. Chloroquine has been a major drug in taken some of its services on the road. Participants.not only get the latest fighting this disease. "It's part of our outreach initiative," says medical information available, but they Immunizations are another concern. Dr. Eugene Chap, Acting Director. also have the opportunity to ask ques­ Getting the right injections before depart­ HSD has a "travelers' health" presen­ tions of the health counselor giving the ing on a trip-and getting them in time­ tation, which is being offered to any presentation. are important. Bank Group unit that wants to hear On malaria, for instance, the situation Diarrheal illnesses are among the more about health concerns connected is becoming increasingly complex, ac­ most common post-mission complaints, with travel in developing countries. cording to Mary Welsh, one of the health and the health counselors have some Some topics currently being discussed counselors, who says that more and valuable tips to help staff prevent these 20 THE BANK'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 problems as well as what to do in case It's Buda, not Pest attend the Award Ceremony which was you do develop them. Hungarian staffer, J ozsef Buky, tells us held in Chicago, Pci Chairman David W. Automobile accidents are a very real risk to travelers, particularly if an emer­ the view of Pest on page 14 of The Bank's Hanson delivered the award to Sam World February issue is, in fact, a view of Niedzviecki, the J building Project Man­ gency blood transfusion is needed. "There are some measures staff can take Buda, taken from the Pest side of the ager, at a small, informal ceremony held river. II January 31 in the J building. to protect themselves, and we discuss The J building received the award for these in the presentations," notes Ms. the innovative use of precast and pre­ Welsh. "We also find it quite helpfuil J Building Receives Award when staff share their own experiences stressed concrete. "Prestressed concrete, with their traveling colleagues. " The Award for Excellence-in Architectur­ which is a lot cheaper than stone, was To schedule the "medical road show" al and Engineering Design, given by the used to enclose the top nine floors allow­ on travelers' health, contact Ms. Welsh Prestressed Concrete Institute (Pci), has ing for minimal support pillars and pro­ on Ext. 74826. II been awarded to the J building. From viding a more effective use of the avail­ more than 150 projects nationwide sub­ able floor space," says Mr. Niedzviecki. mitted to the Chicago-based institute's In addition to this award, the J build­ A Second Gallery jury, only 12 buildings were chosen in ing earlier this year received the Special 1988. The J building was one. Recognition Award from the Concrete If you read about Deborah and Lemar Since no one from the Bank could Industry Board Inc. of New York. II Joichin's Milestone Gallery in the Sep­ tember 1988 issue of The Bank's World and decided to send some framing their way, you are not alone. As a result of increased business, partly generated by the article, Ms. Joichin is leaving the Bank to open a second gallery-this one in Bethesda. Opening date is April I, and you will be able to buy limited edition works of art, original oil paintings, sculp­ tille, art de co and other merchandise similar to that stocked in the Adams Morgan branch. They will also be taking works of art on consignment and having exhibits. The custom framing will contin­ ue to be handled at the original gallery, but orders will be taken in Bethesda and Ms. Joichin will continue to advise-and give special discounts and delivery ser­ vice-to all her former colleagues at the The Collectors Bank. Milestone Gallery, 4931 Cordell The Bookstore was crowded with philatelists January 27 when the U.N. commemorative Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. II postage stamps were put on sale. Photo by Jill Roessner @BtEJCJt?B[£)CJEJ® I: '---'- ----------, ,..... t r() <.':!. \l---\-AN't<.. Y6u .... MISS 'PEH~S crACE, I~ N:J, I'M S:::£~. SI-\\::.' S MAY I ?\...ACE. YOU Bl..).S'£"'ER BC>.co:x." S~N6. ~ or-J THE.~"ER. U~E. ~ / J ~ ~'\. 1:1 ~ \9 ~\\~ ~ ~_ _ _--~I®I~-------~ THE BANK'S WORLD / MARCH 1989 21 Senior Staff Appointments Abhay Deshpande Norris L. Harrison Jr. Phyllis R. Pomerantz Horst Scheffold Indian national ... Appointed U. S. national ... Appointed U.S. national ... Promoted to German national ... Appoint­ Resident Representative in Chief, Monitoring, Evaluation Chief, Agriculture Operations ed the Bank's first Resident Khartoum, Sudan, effective & Systems Division, Policy, Division, Brazil, Country De­ Representative to N'Dja­ February 1. Planning and Information partment I, Latin America mena, Chad, effective Jan­ Joined the Bank in 1980 as Op­ Department, Personnel, ef­ and the Caribbean Region, ef­ uary 17. erations Officer, Industrial De­ fective March 1. fective February 1. 1975: Joined the Bank as Edu­ velopment and Finance Div., 1980: Joined the Bank's Inter­ 1979: Joined the Bank as a cation Specialist, Education EMENA Projects Dept. ... nal Auditing Dept. as Sr. Audi­ Young Professional ... 1980: Div., Eastern Africa Projects 1982: promoted to Senior Op­ tor ... 1981: became Audit Economist, Rural Development Dept. ... 1978: transferred to erations Officer, same depart­ Manager ... 1984: promoted to Div ., Agriculture and Rural De­ Latin America Country Pro­ ment ... 1986: promoted to Se­ Chief, Administrative Expense velopment Dept. ... 1982: grams Dept. as Loan Officer ... nior Financial Policy Analyst, Div., Accounting Dept. .. . transferred to the Office of the 1983: promoted to Sr. Loan Of­ same department ... 1987: 1987: Chief, Controls Div., Director, same department, ficer, same division . .. 1984: Principal Financial Policy Ana­ Controller's Dept. and later reassigned to Agricul­ transferred to Mauritania as lyst, Country Dept. IV, EMENA ture Div. 3, LAC Projects Technical Assistance Adviser . . . Region. Dept. ... 1984: promoted to Sr. 1986: moved to Burkina Faso in Economist, Agriculture Div. B, the same capacity. same department. .. 1986: ap­ pointed Deputy Chief, same di­ vision ... 1987: Principal Econ­ omist, Agriculture Operations Div., Country Dept. I, LAC Re­ gion. New Staff Members Issam Abusleiman Ian D. Hill Limutilish Lissannu ZhuWang Lebanon Ireland Ethiopia China Disbursement Asst ./LOA/2/ 1 Agriculturist!AF4/ 2/ 6 Secretary/ PERI 1/23 Staff Asst./EDS/ 2/ 13 KhadijaBah Md Monirul Islam Jennifer Meade DuanyuWen Sierra Leone Bangladesh United States China Secretary/ PERl2/ 6 Messenger/ SEC/ I/30 Admin. Asst./FCS/ I/ 23 Exec . Director's Asst ./EDS/2/ J3 Max J. Bordes Richard L. Kauffman Zakia B. Ohummun France United States Canada Agric. Extn . Spec '/AFA/2/ 13 Sr. Investment Ofcr./IFC/ 2/6 Secretary/ PAD/ 2/ 13 Richard Brun Peter W. Kohnert Martine M. Stranges France Germany United States Financial Econ./DFS/ 2/ 13 Country Econ ./EM 1/2/ 1 Secretary/UND/ 1/30 Luisita Guanlao Alberto Leon Jean P. Vautherin Philippines Costa Rica France Mgmt. Info. Analyst!FCS/ 2/ 1 Documentation Asst. / ITF/ I/ 30 Agriculturist! AFA/2/ 1 22 THE BANK'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 Support in the Heartland by Frank Vogi was intensely curious about the recep­ tions for many years to come. These are moves are made for many in the 1990s, I tion I would win. I had been asked to talk for a full SO minutes to 700 ladies on not just matters of compensation and benefits, which are frequently being re­ but I hope it does become widely recog­ nized that some short-term pains will be a wintery Wednesday morning in Oma­ ported upon, but also issues concerned worth some real long-term gains. ha, Nebraska. The city's "Women's Town with our physical surroundings. Hall ~, had billed the speech as "Develop­ Mr. Con able will shortly confer with Detailed plan of action ment Challenges: The Next 10 Years," the Board on the future of our older The newspaper scribes who follow fi­ and the ladies arrived in droves, despite buildings. The President has had to weigh nance ministers around the globe were the bitter cold. some difficult options and I remember full of gossip following the latest meeting I talked about global poverty and the debates on this issue running back quite of the Group of 7 (Canada, France, Ger­ World Bank's work. You could have some years now. As the tough choices are many, Japan, Italy, United Kingdom, heard a pin drop in the packed audito­ being made, so the President is acutely United States) in Washington in Febru­ rium. Few of the ladies knew much about aware that there is bound to be inconve­ ary. These reporters declared that offi­ the Bank or economic adjustment or the nience to staff as people move-often to cials are now burning the midnight oil to intricacies of sustainable development. temporary locations-to enable the forge a new Third World debt strategy: a But their enthusiasm and curiosity were wreckers and the builders to create a veritable Baker Plan II. Broad outlines overpowering. brighter Bank- yes, the aim is a brighter are to be readied by the time the G7 The reception was wonderful . The Bank. meets again in Washington in early April questions came in volume. People want­ and everything is then to be put into place ed to know how we work, how we are for official blessing at the international approaching population, health, trade, economic summit in Paris in July. environmental and scores of other prob­ Well, I hope officials involved have lems. People wanted to know where they Decisions are glanced at the latest book by former could read more about the Bank. And the under World Bank staffer and now First Boston ladies of Omaha wanted to hear how they investment banker Pedro-Pablo Kuczyn­ could help end global poverty-how they consideration that ski, Latin Debt (Twentieth Century Fund, could work with charities and put our $12.9s-try Kramer Books). He warns issues on the political agenda. Who says will influence staff that Latin nations will need $20 billion a there is aid fatigue? Here, in the heart­ working conditions year in net capital flows to secure moder­ land of America, there is the sort of in­ ate growth and that "making the interest terest and humanitarian support for our for many years to burden bearable is not enough; there work that should inspire us all. must be more funds for development." come. He leaves no doubt that he would like Load bulges ever greater to have seen the Bank play an even bigger I am constantly awed by the sheer role in the debt crisis and that he expects volume of major decisions that flows to it to be the central player in coming the President. You would think he would Many plans have been considered years. He warns those now planning new have enough on his handsjust consider­ down the years and I have always been strategies that "leadership in the indus­ ing the mass of loans and credits that go impressed by the fact that the planners trialized world is now essential to con­ to the Board and reviewing the Bank's have not just studied the most cost-effec­ vince governments and legislatures to evolving strategies, from debt to finance. tive solutions, but have searched as well support viable new plans and innovative Yet, the load bulges ever greater as ad­ for ways to make office space more com­ financing mechanisms. Otherwise an op­ ministrative matters battle for attention. fortable and enjoyable. I believe that the portunity will be lost, and the damage to The pressure is particularly intense right plans being hatched now do strive to world trade, employment and interna­ now. Decisions are under consideration achieve this goal. There'll be critical tional finance could be large and that will influence staff working condi­ voices around the Bank, of course, as lasting." Il THE BANK'S WORLD I MARCH 1989 23 AnswerLine The purpose of this column is to information into a socio-economic per­ mission. One of the vulnerabilities noted answer questions of broad interest spective through which Bank policies was the easy identification of Bank mem­ concerning the World Bank/ IFC's and guidelines can be adapted and im­ bers by the briefcases they carried. To policies and procedures. Please proved. PRE considers this to be a prior­ overcome this, the Bank opted to pro­ include your name and room number ity issue. I have been assigned this task vide, via attrition, a variety of briefcase so that we can send you the answer to and will work closely with the Environ­ styles. This did not mean that the "tradi­ your question, even if it is not selected ment Department and the Operations tional" style of briefcase would be discon­ to appear in the magazine. Your Complex on the development of appro­ tinued and , indeed, it has not been. How­ confidentiality will be protected and priate policies and guidelines on the miti­ ever, from time to time, some styles of your name will not be submitted to the gation of and the adjustment to the briefcases may not always be available manager from whom an answer is "greenhouse" effect. Erik Arrhenius, and this would clearly seem to be the case sought. An anonymous question can Principal Adviser, Science and Tech­ when you requested your replacement only be answered if it is of sufficiently nology, Sector Policy and Research briefcase. The availability of a particular broad interest to be included in the (PRE) style of briefcase can be confirmed by maga zine. Send your questions to: contacting the Supplies Unit, GSDMM, Answerline, The Bank's World, Rm . Ext. 75300. Mark A. Binning, Chief, Question: In recent weeks, in widely E-8043. GSDMS scattered airports on three different continents, I have run into Bank col­ Question: The attached announcement Question: Does the Bank have a policy leagues whom I had not previously in the Weekly Bulletin [referring to or strategy regarding the "green­ met, but who were instantly recogniz­ books that were not published by the house" effect? I notice from the month­ able by their briefcases, whose design Bank, and therefore cannot be sold at a ly operational summary that the Bank had been unchanged for at least two discount to staff] bothers me. Why has a number of projects under prepa­ decades to my knowledge and probably can't the bookstore offer at least a 20 ration (e.g., construction of coal-fired much longer. But they do not last for­ percent to 25 percent discount even on thermal power units) which-I had ever, so with mine having a broken these non-Bank books? Certainly there thought-were major contributors to hinge, I recently requested a replace­ must be some Bookstore markup. I the "greenhouse" effect. ment. Alas, I was told that they were no would think that if a book is worth Answer: The theory of a green­ II longer stocked, and was offered the stocking, it is worth something to en­ house" effect mainly caused by the emis­ choice between a standard attache courage Bank staff to buy and read it. sion of carbon dioxide from the burning case that would hold little more than Answer: Until recently , the World of fossil fuels has been the subject of my laptop, and an enormous box that Bank Bookstore stocked only the publica­ scientific research, discussion and debate would carry several thousand pages of tions of the Bank. As a service to staff, the since the beginning of this century. Over documents, but would be quite incom­ range has now been extended to include the past 20 years, due to the development patible with most airline seats. The books by Bank staff and retirees, and of models, a much better delineation of virtue of the previous briefcase is not books about the Bank and Bank-related potential consequences with regard to simply that it provides for companion­ issues published by outside publishers. meteorological balances and hydrologi­ ship in airports, but that it has enough Such books are normally purchased by cal and ecological systems has been made room for a computer, short-wave ra­ the Bank from the publishers at a dis­ possible . Nevertheless , current scientific dio, camera, binoculars, umbrella, count of 20 percent, and sold at the list knowledge contains large areas of uncer­ emergency toilet articles and clothing price, without markup. There are admin­ tainty and many of the elements needed in case of lost luggage, critical mission istrative costs involved in providing this to formulate policies and prescribe ac­ documents and other reading matter, service, and if the Bank were to pass on tions to delay and counteract the effect of and will still fit behind the legs in a its discount to staff it would, in fact, be emission of carbon dioxide, chlorofluoro­ crowded economy class seat. Why has subsidizing staff's book purchases. carbons, methane and nitrous oxide on it been discontinued? I disagree with the implication in the the environment are not yet present. Answer: Some years ago, during an final sentence of the question that a book However, since potential climatic change increase in terrorist attacks against inter­ is worth buying and reading only if it can could affect the economies and societies national travelers, the Bank's Field Secu­ be purchased at a discount. James of our member countries, there is an rity Office undertook a special review to Feather, Director, Publications Depart­ urgent need to put available scientific improve the security of Bank staff on ment